Drive cap guide assembly for interconnecting adjoining sheet sections

ABSTRACT

A drive cap guide assembly for interconnecting adjoining sheet sections such as two sheet metal sections. The guide assembly is used in conjunction with a drive source to force the drive cap through the guide for interconnection of the two sheet sections. The drive source may comprise an electric, pneumatic or any other type of power source, or alternatively may be hand-powered.

United States Patent [191 Walton 1 DRIVE CAP GUIDE ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING ADJOINING SHEET SECTIONS [76] Inventor: Mace Edward Walton, 8008 Holly Ave., Waldorf, Md. 20601 [22] Filed: Mar. 5, 1974 [21] App]. No; 448,391

[52] [1.8. CI 29/271; 113/54 [51] Int. Cl. B2511 27/16 [58] Field of Search 1 13/54, 55; 29/241, 243.5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Buenger 416/116 l] 3,887,986 June 10, 1975 2,670,532 3/1954 Lorentzen 29/271 3,280,435 10/1966 Nasworthy 29/241 3,669,051 6/1972 Conway et 113/54 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst 5 7] ABSTRACT A drive cap guide assembly for interconnecting adjoining sheet sections such as two sheet metal sections. The guide assembly is used in conjunction with a drive source to force the drive cap through the guide for interconnection of the two sheet sections. The drive source may comprise an electric, pneumatic or any other type of power source, or alternatively may be hand-powered.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures w mwm 1 n 1975 887,986

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DRIVE CAP GUIDE ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING ADJOINING SHEET SECTIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a guide assembly device for installing a drive cap to interconnect two sheet sections. It has particular utility in joining sheet metal sections used in heating and air-conditioning systems by interconnection of the sheet metal sections with a drive cap.

2. Description of the Prior Art The interconnection of adjacent panels or other structures using an interconnection assembly is known in the prior art. Peters US. Pat. No. l,784,463 for example relates to a sheath or holder for applying moldings, which is provided with a groove or channel to enclose the molding. The Conway U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,051 relates to a roof seaming machine for inter connecting adjacent roofing sheet panels using a clamp means to tightly clamp associated roof panels upon movement of a cam operating means. I-Ieilmen, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,326 relates to a clip forming and applying machine. Yankee U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,042 relates to a power actuated clinching tool, and Buenger U.S. Pat. No. l,974,560 relates to an apparatus for clinching tongues in a bookring assembling machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The particular drive cap guide assembly disclosed in this application is not shown in the prior art and provides distinct advantages thereover. Specifically the in vention relates to a guide assembly to securely hold a drive cap for joining two sheet sections together. A drive source is used to force the drive cap through the guide for installation onto mating protions defined by the two sheet sections, thereby joining the sections together. The drive source may comprise an electric, pneumatic or any other type of power source, or alternatively may be hand powered.

The guide assembly comprises a stop device which defines a cut out section. The cut out section is designed to receive the bar slip in a duct system thereby facilitating use of the drive cap guide assembly in an on-the-job" location. The guide assembly according to the invention holds the drive cap in proper position and prevents wobble, twisting and any other type ofdistortions from occurring while the drive cap is forced through the guide to join the two sheet sections.

The simplicity of the drive cap guide assembly and its efficiency in joining sheet metal sections substantially decreases the time and effort expended in the installation of duct work assemblies. Furthermore, the compact nature of the drive cap guide assembly facilitates its use under close working conditions. The guide assembly may be used to install variously shaped drive caps, for example, they may have a Hat, reinforced or other geometric shape. The drive cap guide assembly according to the invention decreases the time it normally takes to apply the drive cap onto the sheet sections of the duct work and simultaneously decreases manual effort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an isometric view of the drive cap retaining assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the drive cap retaining assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view showing a reinforced drive cap being applied to join two adjoining sheet metal sections; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a duct work assembly illustrating the manner in which the drive cap guide assembly of the invention cooperates to receive the bar slip to facilitate the joinder of the sheet metal sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE FIG. 1 shows the drive cap guide assembly 10 accord ing to the invention, which may be used to join two adjacent sheet metal sections. The drive cap guide assembly comprises a hollow rectangular shaped channel section 11 having a slit 12 extending across upper surface 13. Guide assembly section 15 is either integral with or attached to one end of channel section 11 by conventional means such as by welding, assuming sections II and 15 are manufactured from metal. Sections 11 and 15 define a T-beam" groove consisting of groove section 16 and groove section 17 extending perpendicularly therefrom at substantially the midsection of groove section 16.

The purpose of this particularly shaped guide section 15 is to accommodate both flat and standing seam reinforced drive caps. For example, FIG. 3 shows a standing seam reinforced drive cap 20 in cross section having horizontal portions 21 and 22 and vertical portion 23, to effect joinder of adjoining metal sheets 24 and 25. Metal sheets 24 and 25 are appropriately folded along the edges to be joined to effect the connection via the drive cap 20.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the manner in which the guide 10 guides standing seam reinforced drive cap 20 therethrough, with guide section 15 defining slots 16 and 17 to permit standing seam reinforced drive cap 20 to be pushed therethrough for joining sections 24 and 25. The guide assembly functions to prevent wobble, twisting and any other type of distortion from occurring while the drive cap 20 is forced therethrough to join sheet metal sections 24 and 25. Guide section 15 has particular versatility because it may also be utilized to guide a flat drive cap. It is also to be understood that the invention encompasses other geometrically shaped drive caps and section 15 may be designed to define appropriate cut out sections to guide said other geometrically shaped drive caps therethrough.

The particular drive assembly for the drive cap is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. I thus shows hammer plunger 31 having a base section 32 which is received by channel section 10. The hammer plunger section 34 extends through slit. 12. A hammer chuck 33 is attached to hammer plunger 31. The hammer chuck may be attached to an electric, pneumatic or any other type of power source as conventionally known in the art. Alternatively the hammer plunger may be hand powered, with an appropriate handle being attached thereto.

FIG. 1 also shows that section 11 of guide 10 is attached to an angle iron section 40. The angle iron section 40 defines a center cut out section 41 to receive the bar slip of a duct system. For example FIG. 4 shows how the device of FIG. I may be utilized in a duct system to join sections 24 and 25 together. The knotched section 41 of angle iron 40 receives the bar slip 42 which forms part of a conventional section of a duct work system. The drive cap guide assembly may thereby be utilized to effect the joinder of sheet sections 24 and 25 by pushing the selected drive cap therethrough to join the respective section 24 and 25 as discussed heretofore.

The operation of the drive cap retaining assembly according to the invention proceeds as follows. The selected drive cap is inserted into guide 10, and the hammer plunger is brought into abutment therewith. The desired drive means is attached thereto which, as discussed above, may be powered either by electrical, pneumatic or any other type of power source or which may alternatively be hand powered. The selected drive means pushes the drive cap through the guide and through the appropriately attached guide section to cause it to join the sheet metal sections together. For example, FlG. 3 shows how a standing seam reinforced drive cap effects joinder of adjoining sheet metal sections 24 and 25. When the terminating end of the drive cap is pushed through guide section 15, the operation terminates becauses at that point hammer plunger 31 abuts against guide section 15.

I claim:

1. In a guide assembly for interconnecting adjoining sheet sections together with a drive cap, the adjoining edges of the sheet sections being shaped to mate with the drive cap to effect interconnection thereby, comprising:

a. a first guide section comprising a long channel to receive the drive cap, having an entry end through which the drive cap enters and an exit end through which the drive cap exists, and further defining a slit at the top portion thereof to receive any vertical extension of the drive cap,

b. a second guide section secured to the top portion at the exit end of the first guide section to guide said any vertical extension of the drive cap during the interconnection operation, the first and second guide sections being shaped to securely support the drive cap and prevent distortion thereof during the interconnection operation,

c. drive means to drive the drive cap through the first and second guide sections, and

d. an angle stop attached beneath the first guide section at the exit end of the first guide section and defining a notched section for receiving a bar slip.

2. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet sections are adjoining sheet sections of a ductwork systern.

3. The guide assembly of claim 2 wherein the drive means comprises a hammer plunger having a base received by the long channel to push the drive cap therethrough.

4. The guide assembly of claim 3 wherein the second guide sections stops the hammer plunger when the latter comes into contact therewith from further driving the drive cap.

5. The guide assembly of claim 4 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.

6. The guide assembly of claim 4 wherein the bar slip comprises part of the ductwork system.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.

8. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a hammer plunger having a base received by the long channel to push the drive cap therethrough.

9. The guide assembly of claim 8 wherein the second guide section stops the hammer plunger when the latter comes into contact therewith from further driving the drive cap.

10. The guide assembly of claim 9 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.

11. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet sections are adjoining sheet sections of a ductwork system. 

1. In a guide assembly for interconnecting adjoining sheet sections together with a drive cap, the adjoining edges of the sheet sections being shaped to mate with the drive cap to effect interconnection thereby, comprising: a. a first guide section comprising a long channel to receive the drive cap, having an entry end through which the drive cap enters and an exit end through which the drive cap exists, and further defining a slit at the top portion thereof to receive any vertical extension of the drive cap, b. a second guide section secured to the top portion at the exit end of the first guide section to guide said any vertical extension of the drive cap during the interconnection operation, the first and second guide sections being shaped to securely support the drive cap and prevent distortion thereof during the interconnection operation, c. drive means to drive the drive cap through the first and second guide sections, and d. an angle stop attached beneath the first guide section at the exit end of the first guide section and defining a notched section for receiving a bar slip.
 2. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet sections are adjoining sheet sections of a ductwork system.
 3. The guide assembly of claim 2 wherein the drive means comprises a hammer plunger having a base received by the long channel to push the drive cap therethrough.
 4. The guide assembly of claim 3 wherein the second guide sections stops the hammer plunger when the latter comes into contact therewith from further driving the drive cap.
 5. The guide assembly of claim 4 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.
 6. The guide assembly of claim 4 wherein the bar slip comprises part of the ductwork system.
 7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.
 8. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises a hammer plunger having a base received by the long channel to push the drive cap therethrough.
 9. The guide assembly of claim 8 wherein the second guide section stops the hammer plunger when the latter comes into contact therewith from further driving the drive cap.
 10. The guide assembly of claim 9 wherein the hammer plunger is power operated.
 11. The guide assembly of claim 1 wherein the sheet sections are adjoining sheet sections of a ductwork system. 